One of the methods used to retrieve and store the complete data from a CD or DVD is to create an image file of that disk using software that has this feature, be it paid or free. One of the file types for such image files is the BIN file. This means that the file has .BIN extension. This is able to store large amount of data, in a format exactly the same like the one in the original disk. In order to use this image file, you must use an application that can burn the images to other disks. For this, a CUE file is also needed; this one contains all the general information about the BIN file, including its full name.

mount-bin-fileAccess to the contents in a BIN file can be obtained by loading the BIN file into a program that provides this kind of support. This means that a virtual drive will be made available and the image contents will be loaded in it, exactly as if you had a CD or DVD and put it in the optical device.

A BIN file can be used in more than one way. Besides replicating the contents of CDs and DVDs, there are other situations in which these are present. For example, the printers’ drivers use BIN files and Windows itself uses bin files for Simple Network Managing Protocol (SNMP).

Another important use for the BIN files is the storage. As online gaming becomes more and more popular these days, storing games and game settings can be a problem of space and accessing speed. Using a smart archiving system, BIN files can be stored in .ZIP files and, after unpacking the package, these are restored to their initial and full size and formats.

BIN file type is only one from several types to describe the usages mentioned above. There are also ISO, NRG and CUE files that have the same properties of replicating, storing and restoring the data from CDs and DVDs. Generally, the software that creates the image files is also able to burn them on new disks. Nero is one such program, very common and easy to use, produced by Ahead Software. Some other software, like Magic ISO, allows you not only to create, burn and load the image, but also to access and edit it.

In order to mount these images (to restore them as if they were actual CDs and DVDs, software like Magic ISO, Nero or Daemon Tools can be used.

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